Microsatellite variability between apricot and related Prunus species

Background Apricots, family Rosaceae, are economically important representatives of the genus Prunus. The number of apricot species ranges from three to ten, depending on the classification system adopted. The major obstacles to expansion of apricot production are irregular yields and low resistance to diseases. Compared with the high genetic variability in related species, apricots are not so variable and thus interspecific hybrids were proposed as a means to overcome deficiencies inherent in the common apricot. To estimate the extent of variation in apricot germplasm, between ecogeographical groups and related species, is very useful for planning breeding programmes, through diversity analysis, cultivar identification or marker-assisted selection.